Control mechanism



May 19, 1936. A. A. MARKS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1928 asheets-sheet 1 Coumon.

A. A. MARKS 2,041,559

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 48 39 Q I I52!x I l 5 204 l /I I E HZ v INV EN TOR Alexander A; Mar/f3 May 19, 1936;A. A. MARKS ,559

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 23, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Men/Z01? PatentedMay 19, 1936 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to flow control and the provision of meansrendering flow dependent upon the concurrence of independent conditionsacting through suitable mechanisms to conjoint- 1y control the valvemechanism regulating a port or passage through which flow may occur. Itpertains primarily to the 110w of fluid fuel and the provision ofapparatus whereby the flow of the fuel can be started and stopped,either man- 10 ually or automatically by remote control mechanism,during the maintenance of conditions adjacent to the intended place ofconsumption of the fuel insuring combustion thereof, but which willrender the automatic control mechanism inoperative should the conditionsinsuring combustion cease to prevail.

While my improvements are of general application, they are particularlydesigned for controlling the flow of gaseous or liquid fuel to a burnerignited'by a pilot. Preferably the flow is controlled at the point ofdischarge to a burner chamber by a valve or cap sealing the end of thesupply conduit and normally operable by mechanism controlled by athermostat, pressurestat or other remote control device, but whichmechanism is rendered inoperative upon the extinguishment of the pilotfor igniting the burner.

If desired, however, the parts may be so arranged as to permit flow offuel while either the pilot or burner is ignited instead of renderingthe remote control mechanism inoperative by the extinguishment of thepilot or of both pilot and burner, it may be rendered inoperative uponattainment of a desired maximum pressure or 5 temperature in a boilerheated by the burner, or

the like.

Ordinarily the flow of gas to a gas burner is controlled by a valve setback some distance from the discharge end of the supply conduit andleaving between the valve and the end of the conduit a pocket or chamberin which uncon-' sumed gas tends to accumulate and cause explosions orback-firing. In the preferred embodiment of my improvements, thisobjectionable feature is eliminated by providing a valve plug which capsor enters the discharge end of the conduit.

The valve or plug is preferably mounted upon a carrier consisting of afulcrumed lever pressed in one direction by a spring or weight. Thecarrier may be latched against the action of the spring or weight by acatch having a latching position and an unlatching and non-latchingposition. An actuator, such as a lever operable by a, thermostat,pressurestat or the like, is provided with means, such as a dog, formoving the valve carrier into latching position and with an arm formoving the catch into unlatching position, so that the position of thevalve may be automatically controlled by remote control ap- 5 paratus.

When, however, further flow under such control is undesirable, as, forinstance, when conditions at the place of fuel consumption are such thatfuel supplied will not be consumed, the 10 catch is movable tonon-latching position by mechanism influenced by such conditions. Suchconditions arise in connection with a fuel burner, for example, upon theextinguishment of the pilot or of both the burner and the pilot, when 15further flow of fuel is undesirable even though the remote controlmechanism is so actuated as to normally open and latch the valve. Thecatch is, therefore, normally subjected to the influence of means, suchas a spring or weight, 20 tending to move it to non-latching position,but the action of such means is normally counterbalanced or overcome bya heat responsive mechanism so positioned as to be heated and expandedby combustion at the pilot or at the burner or both.

In my preferred construction, the catch or latching device consists of aspring lever fulcrumed on a bearing movable by a heat expansive memberforming or connected with the pilot 30 tube. The expansion of the memberpositions the bearing so that the latching lever is held in a latchingposition in the path of the nose of a fulcrumed lever having the valveconnected therewith. 35

Trip mechanism. operable to release the latching lever from the valvelever may also be provided or the closing of the valve by the automaticremote control mechanism may be otherwise effected. In one embodiment ofmy im- 40 provements, the valve lever and the trip mechanism areoperated by movements in opposite directions of a lever controlled by athermostat or the like and having thereon a pivoted dog for rocking thevalve lever and an arm for rocking 5 the trip mechanism. In otherembodiments of my invention, the thermostatically controlled lever actson the valve through members positioned by the latching and unlatchingof the valve controlling lever. 50

When the heat expansive member contracts, the latching lever is moved toa non-latching position out of the path of the valve controlling lever,which either returns the valve to closed position directly or sopositions the valve operating members as to prevent the actuation of thevalve therethrough.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will morefully appear from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings in illustration of embodiments of my improvements applied to agas burner of the Bunsen type.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation. of apreferred embodiment of my invention: connected with a gas burner. andpilot tube therefor, the burner and pilot tube being shown infragmentary form; Fig. 1A is a view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1with the parts in the position occupied when the valve is latched open;Fig, 2 is a transverse sectional view onathe line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 2a.is a diagrammatic side elevation of the structure as shown in Fig. 1,with parts omitted. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the end ofa pilot tube having a supplementary thermostatic" device therein-7 Fig.4 is a similar view showing a modified formof supplementarythermostaticdevice; Fig. 5 is a detached plan view of an adjustable stop for thelatching lever; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of slightly modifiedmechanism through which the valve controlling lever transmits motion tothe valve; Fig; 7 is an end viewof the mechanism shown in. Fig. 6; Fig;8 is a fragmentary view of a further modified mechanism through whichthe valve is operated; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View of furthermodified mechanism through which the valve is operated.

As illustrated; in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings; a fluid fuelsupply conduit I has its end mounted in a hollow hub 2 of a disk 3containing apertures controlled by a revoluble shutter 4 mounted on thehub 2, as in a usual Bunsen burner:

A boss' 5 is screwed intothe projection 2' of the hub 2' on the oppositeside of the disk 3 from the pipe'l and contains a passage communicatingwith the bore ofthe hub 2 and pipe I-. The outer end of thepassagethrough the boss 5 is flared to form a; seat 6- forreceiving aconoidalvalve or cap 1 pivotally connected with the angularly bent arm 8 of the"bell crank lever 8. Thevalve has'a slight play longitudinally of itspivot and its movement about its pivot is limited by the engagement ofthe rear face of the valve with the edge of the lever B. The lever 8 ispinned to the shaft 9' journalled in bearings It of the projection 2".

A spring ll, seated in the recess l2 and engaging the stud l3 on theupper arm 8" of the bell crank l'ever 8, normally presses the arm 8outward soas to seat" the valve 7 in the valve seat 6, the slight axialand rotary movement of the valve on its pivot permitting it to beaccurately seated to form a tight joint.

To unseat the valve 1, the lever 8' is rocked by means of a pin l4thereon which is' engaged and lifted by the tapered nose of a bell cranklever I5 fixed to a pivot l6 journalled'in' the bell crank lever H; themovement of the lever it in one direction being limited by theengagement of its pin V5 with a projection ll." of the lever H. Thelever IT is fixed to a shaft I8 journalled in the hub or bracket 2' andin a bearing is on the flange 20 of the disk 3.. A lever. 21 is fixed tothe the outer end of the shaft l8 and has a weight 22" depending fromthe outer end thereof to normally rock the lever and shaft in. onedirection.

The arm of'the bellcrank l1 opposite the proj'ection' H is provided witha tapered end 23 disposed between the legs 24 of a yoke having a body 25journalled on the stud 26 threaded into the bracket 2, and an arm 2'! isbent upward from such body 25 and has a finger or trigger 28 at rightangles thereto and in the plane of but above the body 25 and offset fromthe yoke 2d.

The arm 8" has a beveled top forming a tapered nose 29 adapted, when thevalve '1 is opened, to occupy a position to the left of, and to beengaged by, the complementary nose 3% formed by the end of a lever 3!when such lever is in a substantially vertical or latching position. Thelever 3| is fulcrumed between a pair of knife edges 32, 32' seated innotches in the upper part of the lever 3|. The knife edges 32 are formedon a block'33' adjustable, by a lock bolt 3 in the bracket 35 projectingfrom the member 452.

The upper end of the lever 3i and the mechanisms connected therewith arehoused within a hood 36 fixed to the member 32 by screws 3?.

The knife edge 32" is offset vertically from the knife edge 32therebelow'and is formed on a block 33 fixed to the rod 39. A spring 50is coiled around the stud M fi-xed in the housing 32 and presses againstthe upper end of the lever 3! so as to normally press it away from thehousing 42.

The member 42 is bolted to a housing 43 mounted on an extension of theflange 20, and a diaphragm- 44 is engaged between the members 62 and 53soas to seal one end of the chamber 45 in the housing 43. The rod 39passes through an aperture inthe diaphragm M and nuts 36 and washers 41seal the joint between the diaphragm and the rod.

A pilot tube Z8 formed of metal readily expansible by heat is seated inthe end of the housing 4 3' opposite the diaphragm 54 and has at theouter end thereof a plug 49 in which is anchored the end of the brassrod 39, which is maintained at a substantially constant temperature bythe fluid fuel flowing through the pilot tube and hence varies verylittle in length as a result of expansion or contraction.

Gas is-admitted to the chamber 65 through a suitable'port 50 connectedthrough a by-pass with the main supply pipe I to supply gas which isburned at the apertures 5| of the pilot tube to. form a pilot lightwhich heats and expands the pilot tube so as to increase the lengththereof and exert a pull on the rod 39.

If it is desired to secure greater movement of the rod 39 than resultsfrom the expansion and contraction of the tube 48, a bi-metallicthermostatic loop 49a (Fig. 3) or a bi-metallic thermostatic dished disk4'91) (Fig. 4) may be connected to the rod and tube. The heat of thepilot light burning adjacent to' the member 3911 or 591) will cause suchmembers to move toward the outer end of the tube and exert a pull on therod.

When the pilot light is extinguished, the members 39, 49a or 4% cool andcontract and exert a thrust on the rod 39 and move it and the lever 35toward the left (Fig. 1) to its unlatching or non-latching positionthereby effecting a positioning of the lever 3i so that the valve l maybe opened through distant control mechanism connected with a chain 5?.The maximum movements of the lever 3! to the right may be limited by theslotted plate 29a adjustably fixed to the flange" 25 by the screw 26b sothat an excessive pull upon the rod 39 cannot cause the spring ii tomove the lever-3i beyond its latching position.

The holes 5| are preferably positioned between the bottom of the tubeand the median horizontal plane thereof to secure freedom from detritusand avoid burning the tube while projecting the flame in the desireddirection.

An indicator plate 52, visible through the open ing 53 in the hood 36 isbolted to a lever 54 fulcrumed on a pin 55 fixed to the bracket 35. Thelever 54 has its bifurcated end 54 engaged by a pin 56 on the lever 8.The movement of the lever 8 acts through the mechanism described to movethe plate 52 and indicate by the exposure of suitable inscriptionsthereon Whether the gas is turned on or off.

The pilot tube projects over a burner A supplied with gas through theport 6 and having usual burner apertures 2a, see Fig. 2a. The pilot tubeand burner are in such proximity that the gas flowing through the burnerapertures is ignited initially by the pilot light maintained at theapertures 5| which latter keeps the tube 48 or the members 49a, 49bexpanded. The burner and tube may be placed in such proximity that whileeither the burner or the pilot tube is lighted the tube 48 or members48a, 49b is expanded by the heat thereof but this is ordinarily notnecessary.

The pull on the rod 39 acts to move the knife edge 32 and permit thespring 40 to move the nose 38 of the lever 3| toward the right so as toposition such nose 38 in the path of the nose 29 and latch the lever 8against the action of the spring I I when the valve has been moved toopen position.

My control mechanism is particularly adapted for use where it is desiredto control the flow of fuel by means of a thermostat, pressurestat, orother heat regulator or remote control device 221'. Such remote controldevice acts through a tension member 51 on the lever 2 I. So long as thepilot is ignited, the nose 38 is normally positioned ready to latch thenose 29 and hold the valve 1 open when the lever 2| is lifted by theremote control device through the tension member 51 to rock the lever 8through the parts I 8, I5 and I4. As the parts 29 and 38 latch, the noseof the arm I5 passes under the pin I 4. If, however, the pilot isextinguished, the nose 29 is not engaged by the nose 38 because the rod39 has thrust the lever 3| from its latching position.

When sufficient fuel has been consumed to give a temperature or pressureabove that at which the thermostat or the like is set, the remotecontrol device releases the member 51 so that the weight 22 acts todepress the lever 2| which acts through the shaft I8, arm 23, and yoke24 to rock the tripper 28 against the lever 3|. This moves the nose 39to the left against the action of the spring 48 and out of the path ofthe nose 29, and the spring II thereupon rocks the lever B and seats thevalve 1 in the seat 6, the arm I5 rocking on its pivot so as to assumeits initial position.

When the temperature or pressure again falls, the remote control deviceagain acts through the tension member 51 to lift the lever 2| and rockthe arm 23. The movement of the arm 23 disengages the tripper 28 fromthe lever 3| and permits the spring 48 to rock the lever 3| and restorethe nose 38 to its latching position. Continued upward movement of thelever 2| causes the arm I5 to rock the lever B through the pin I4 andagain latch the valve in the open position, as previously described.

When, however, the pilot is extinguished, the cooling and contraction ofthe tube 48 or the members 49a or 481) shifts the knife edge 32 to theleft, which rocks the lever 3| so that the nose 38 is moved to the leftout of latching position. Consequently when the lever 2| is elevated bythe remote control mechanism, the nose I5 lifts and passes under the pinI4 but the valve immediately recloses because the nose 38 is not inposition to latch the nose 29. Hence there can be no flow of fuel whenthere is no flame available to ignite it and the most dangerous featureof automatically operated fluid fuel burners is thus obviated. The flowthrough the pilot is ordinarily too small to be dangerous or important,but if desired the pilot feed line can also be closed by a valvecontrolled by the movement of the rod 39.

When it is desired to light the burner after the burner and pilot haveboth been extinguished, the pilot should be lighted so as to expand therod 48 or a member 49a, 49b. The burner can be directly lighted only bymanually holding the lever 2| in such position as will cause the nose I5to hold the pin I4 in elevated position and unseat the stopper 1. Whenthe heat of the pilot or burner expands the tube 48 or a member 49a, 4%,the nose 38 is moved thereby into normal latching position and the nose29 may be latched behind it.

As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, it is sometimes desirable to eliminatethe downwardly bent integral arm 8 of the lever 8 and to connect thelever B with the valve I by intermediate mechanism comprising bentlevers 68 having fixed thereto a pintle 6| on which the apertured bossof the valve 1 is journalled. The levers 88 have their upper endsjournalled upon pins 62 fixed in brackets 63 secured to the member 2. Apin 64 fixed in the levers passes through an elongated slot 8a in theouter end of the lever 8.

It will be understood that the movements of the lever arm 8 aretransmitted through the pin 64 to the levers 68 to seat or unseat thevalve 1, as previously described. By the interposition of levers 68between the lever 8 and the valve 1 greater clearance and more accurateseating of the valve may be secured.

Where a series of valves are disposed in alignment, the levers 8 may bemounted in suitably spaced relation upon a single rod 9 extendingthrough all the mechanisms or the several rods 9 may be coupled togetherand operated as one, so L that all the valves are controlled by a singlelever 3| and its connected parts. In such tandem arrangements, a singlecontrol mechanism may be utilized for the actuation of a plurality ofindividual valves.

My improved mechanism is also applicable to the control of types ofvalves other than that described. For instance, where it is desired tocontrol a supply main to effect the simultaneous operation of a numberof burners or to control the supply to the pilot as well as the burner,my improvements may be connected with valve mecha nisms such as shown inFigs. 8 and 9 to supple-' ment or supplant the action of the valve 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the action of a valve such as shown at I inFig. 1 may be supplemented by having its lever B fixed to a shaft 9 towhich is fixed an arm 65 containing an elongated slot 66 for theengagement of a pin 61 set in a lever 68 which is fulcrumed on a yokebracket 89 of the valve casing 18. An arm 2|, operable from remotecontrol mechanism through a tension member 51', is pivotally connectedby a pintle 68' with the end of the lever 88 remote from the pin 61.

The vertically reciprocable stem 1|, for operating a normally closedvalve in the casing 19, has fixed thereto a yoke or slotted member 12which straddles the levers 88 and 2|;

When the lever 8 is unlatched from the lever 3 I, by the mechanism andin the manner described in connection. with. Fig. 1 it is passed. bythe. spring I I: soas to turn the shaft 9 on its axis and thereby turnthe arm 65 to the position shown in full lines.

1y, when the lever 2.1 is. operated. by the tension member 51', it doesnot contact with the top I2 of the yoke. 12' and. the valve. isinoperable by the remote control mechanism.

When, however, the nose; 29. is latched. behind the nose 36, by the.mechanism and in the manner described in connection with Fig. l theshaft 9 is turned by the lever 81 so that the arm 65 is moved to theposition shown in dotted lines, thereby tilting the lever' 68' andelevating the fulcrum formed by the. pintle. 68. Hence when the lever 2|is operated by remote controlmechanism through the tension member 51',the yoke I2 of the valve is engaged and operated by the lever 2!.

The maximum movement of the lever 2| may be limited by itsengagementwith. the curved top 69 of the member 69..

As illustrated in Fig. 9, the action of a valve such as shown at I inFig. 1 may be supplemented by having its lever 8 fixed to a shaft 9" towhich is fixed an arm I5. The arm I5 is connected by an adjustable linkI6 withan. arm 11 pivoted on the stem I8 adapted for operating anormally closed valve in the casing I9. A bracket on the valve casinghas fulcrumed thereon a lever 2! operable from remote control mechanismthrough a tension member 51", the maximum movement of the lever 2|"being limited by a slotted bracket 8 I" on the valve casing.

When the lever: B is. unlatched from the lever 3i, by the mechanism. andin the manner described in connectionwith Fig. 1, it is turned by thespring II on its axis and. turns the shaft 9 and arm I5 so as to actthrough the link I6 and elevate the arm. 71 out of the path of the lever2|". Consequently the movement of. the lever 21" by the remote controlmechanism is ineffective to operate the valve. When, however, the lever8 is latched. behind the lever 3|, by the mechanism. and in the mannerdescribed in connection with Fig. 1, the arm I5 is turned by the shaft 9to the dotted. line position and moves the arm 7! into position to beengaged by the movement of the arm 2|" to operate the valve when the armZI" is; moved by the remote control mechanism.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a burner, a pilot adjacent to said burner and afuel-control valve normally biased toward closed position, of remotecontrol mechanism controlling from a remote point the position of saidvalve and moving it toward open position, and mechanism operable by thecombustion of fuel at said pilot for controlling said valve:independently of the action of said remote control mechanism, saidsecond named mechanism reestablishing the effectiveness of the controlof said remote control mechanism over said valve upon the mere ignitionof fuel at said pilot.

2. The combination with a burner, a pilot adjacent to said burner, meansforming a passage discharging fuel to said burner, and a valve adaptedto seal the extreme end of said passage and movable toward and; awayfrom sealing position, of remote control mechanism for moving said valveinto and out of said sealing position, and mechanism operable by thecombustion. of

This. rocks the lever 68 on. its fulcrum to: the full line'position.Consequentfuel at said. pilot for controlling said valve in dependentlyof the action of said remote control mechanism, said second namedmechanism rendering said remote control inefiective upon theextinguishment of a flame at said pilot and. re.- establishing theeffectiveness of said remote con:- trol mechanism. upon the ignition of.a flame at: said pilot.

3. The combination with a burner, a pilot, valve mechanism controllingthe flow of fuel to said burner, a remote control for said valvevmechanism, and means for rendering inoperative the remote control whenthe pilot is extinguished and again rendered operative by the mereignition of the pilot. and without any adjustment or operation of themechanisms and including an actuator operable by said remote control,lever mechanism through which said actuator rocks said valve mechanismupon movement of the actuator in an upward direction, latching mechanismholding in place the lifted valve mechanism notwithstanding any returnof the actuator to a lower position, means by whichsaid actuatorreleases said latching mechanism upon the movement of said actuator to alower position, and thermostatic mechanism controlled by said pilot forreleasing said latching mechanism independently of said actuator.

4. The combination with a latch, means for shifting said latch andcomprising a pilot tube with a thermostatic member housed therein, alever controlled by said latch, valve operating means actuated by saidlever, and a valve operable by said means.

5. The combination with a burner, a pilot adjacent to said burner, afuel control valve, and means normally biasing said valve towardclosedposition, of latching means for holding said valve in openposition against the action of said biasing means, control mechanismoperable from a remote position and including means for positivelyopening said valve against the action of said biasing means, saidmechanism also including means for tripping said latching means, andmechanism operable by the combustion of fuel at said pilot forcontrolling said latching means independently of the action of saidremote control mechanism and rendering said latching means ineffectiveupon the cessation of combustion at said pilot, said second namedmechanism reestablishing the potential efiectiveness of said latchingmeans upon the mere ignition of fuel at. said pilot.

6. In combination a support, a detent on the support, means for movingthe detent between operative and inoperative positions, a valve biasedtoward closed position, a. latch for the detent movable with the valve,andmeans for moving the valve and its latch against the valve bias andreleasing them at a position for latching cooperation of the latch withthe detent to hold the valve open in said operative position of thedetent.

7. In combination, a support, a detent on the support movable betweenoperative and inopera-- tive positions, a thermal device, a valvecontrolling said device and biased toward closed position, a latch forthe detent movable with the valve, means for moving the valve and itslatch against the valve bias and releasing them at a position forlatching cooperation of the latch with the detent to hold the valve openin said operative position of the detent, and means re- III sponsive tothermal. conditions of said device for 7 moving the detent betweenoperative and inoperative positions.

8. In combination, in a burner including main and pilot-gas-jetelements, a support, a detent on the support movable between operativeand inoperative positions, a valve controlling the main burner elementand biased toward closed position, a latch for the detent movable withthe valve, means for moving the valve and its latch against the valvebias and releasing them at a position for latching cooperation of thelatch with the detent to hold the valve open in said operative positionof the detent, and thermalresponsive means controlled by one of saidgasjet elements for moving the detent between operative and inoperativepositions.

9. The combination with a burner, a pilot, valve mechanism controllingthe flow of fuel to said burner for cooperation with a remote controlfor said valve mechanism, and means for rendering inoperative the remotecontrol when the pilot is extinguished and again rendered operative bythe mere ignition of the pilot and without any adjustment or operationof the) mechanisms and including an actuator operable by said remotecontrol, lever mechanism through which said actuator rocks said valvemechanism upon movement of the actuator in an upward direction, latchingmechanism holding in place the lifted valve mechanism notwithstandingany return of the actuator to a lower position, means by which saidactuator releases said latching mechanism uopn the movement of saidactuator to a lower position, and thermostatic mechanism controlled bysaid pilot for releasing said latching mechanism independently of saidactuator.

ALEXANDER A. MARKS.

